Puget Sound Energy is holding a series of workshops to provide people an opportunity to learn more about its Energize Eastside project and provide feedback about potential route segments.

Energize Eastside is a project proposed by PSE to build new, higher capacity electric transmission lines on the Eastside to upgrade the existing transmission system and ensure more dependable, long-term power. The project includes 18 miles of new transmission lines between Renton, through Bellevue, to Redmond.

Neighborhood and community leaders serving on "sub-area" committees will gather information at workshops to share with the project's Community Advisory Group, which will recommend a route to PSE later this year. After the community has provided input, PSE will select a preferred route that balances customer input, community and energy demands on the Eastside, and an evaluation of requirements and constraints.

The workshops will be focused on specific geographic areas. Meetings in March and April are workshops; meetings in May are sub-area committee meetings. Upcoming meetings are from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the following locations:

Redmond meetings (north sub-area, north of SR 520): March 19, April 16 and May 7 at Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, 16600 NE 80th Street; and

Renton meetings (south sub-area, south of I-90): March 27, April 24 and May 15, Renton Technical College (Building 1, Robert C. Roberts Campus Center Cafeteria, 3000 NE Fourth St.

The workshops are opportunities to learn about the project, examine route segments and evaluate the segments. Following the workshops, the sub-area committees will meet to review outcomes from the workshops and develop findings to share with the Community Advisory Group. Members of the public are welcome to attend and observe the sub-area meetings.

The City of Bellevue and other community stakeholders are participating on the sub-area committees and on the Community Advisory Group. Please contact staff members Mike McCormick Huentelman, mmhuent@bellevuewa.gov, or Nicholas Matz, nmatz@bellevuewa.gov, for city information.